Adjustable curtain or drape



P 1953 B. M. MEYER 2,633,910

ADJUSTABLE cua ram OR DRAPE Filed Nov. 1, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 9 R m T ,m in V m b. A m a 6 H a 2 w fi fi 113.53---. 4 Z l Z B. M. MEYER ADJUSTABLE CURTAIN 0R DRAPE April 7, 1953 2SHEETS-SHEET2 Filed Nov. 1, 1951 coaoeooo w IN V EN TOR. ZBEkfl/A M. MEYER B Patented Apr. 7, 1953 ADJUSTABLE CURTAIN. on DRAPE Bertha Meyer, Cincinnati, Ohio 7 Application November 1, 195 1, Serial No. 254,219

1 Claims. (01. 160-330.).

The present invention relates to an adjustable curtain or drape, such, as may be employed in decorating openings in a wall, for, example windowor door openings.

One object of the invention is to provide a curtain or drape which can be fabricated on a .high production basis in a single size, for the decorating of wall openings of various sizes without cutting the material or in any way altering the curtain or drape as manufactured.

Another object is to simplifythe construction of a curtain or drape, and to substantially standardize the same, with the purpose of minimizing the consumers decorating expenses, as well as the cost of merchandising by reducing stock sizes. As the result of reducing stock sizes,

the manufacturer is enabled to economically pro-.

duce the curtains ordrapes in a wide variety of patterns, which heretofore has been practically and economically not feasible.

A further object is to enable the purchaser to achieve full harmony in the decorating of win- 'dows of various sizes, using ready-made curtains or drapes, whereas heretofore it was often necessary to resort t custom manufactureor hand alteration at great expense and with considerable delay, in order to achieve the same result.

' Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of curtain or drape which is easyto hang and arrange, so that no special skill is needed in order to achieve pleasing arrangements and effects. 1

The foregoing and other objects are attained by themeans described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my. improved curtain or drape arranged upon a curtain rod or bar. l

Fig. 2 is a front viewon a reduced scale,'showing thecurtain or drape of Fig. 1 with. the ruffles omitted. V

i Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan view, on a slightly enlarged scale, showing the reverse side or rear of the curtain or drape of, Fig. 2..

-Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modification in plan.

Fig. 5 is a. view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, showing .a second modification.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective view on an enlarged scale, showing a third modification.

Ready-made curtains and drapes heretofore have been produced for Salem many different sizes, styles and patterns, in an effort to supply the infinitely complex and extensive needs of consumers, resulting from the varying requirements of different window sizes and locations.

. Almost invariably, the home-maker finds that problem at hand, withthe result that alterations are found necessary; or, as in most cases, it

becomes more practical and economical to forego the use of ready-made curtains, and resort to the services of a skilled "decorator who can make curtains or drapes to suit the existing circum The situation indicates clearly the instances. ability of manufacturers and retailers to meet 7 the requirements of the consumer, notwithstandingthe efforts made to ofier a reasonably full line of merchandise, which,.though very extensive, is wholly inadequate. One of the principal objects of the present invention is to so construct a curtain or drape, that a single size can be made to fit many different situations without alteration, and by so limiting the size requirements, the manufacturer and the retailer are. enabled to offer the consumer a more complete. line of patterns and styles, without unreasonable over-stocking of merchandise. Thus, readymade curtains and drapes are rendered more-universally acceptable to meet the requirements of individual consumers, when constructed in ac-' of different patterns and materials without overburdening space limitations for storage and display of the. merchandise. Moreover, the consumer is enabled toobtain, without special order, any number of identical curtains or drapes, and to proceed with an existing decorating job, without the risk of failure to duplicate the pattern desired. Many other advantages resulting from the practice of the present invention will be manifest to those who are conversant with the art, and no further eifort to point out such additional advantagesis needed here, as they are obvious to persons dealing in the merchandise under consideration. r

The following constitutesa full disclosure of the invention, and the manner inwhich it may be practiced to advantage.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. ,1 illustrates a curtain or drape which constitutes-a panel 9 of flexible material suitable for use as a curtain or drape. The invention is applicable, whether the material used is woven fabric, plastic sheeting, paper, or any other material commonly employed as curtain or drape material. The panel is to be hung with. decorative effect, from .an overhead curtain rod or bar It whichusually is substantially horizontal. Preferably, though not necessarily,'the bar is constituted of two or more telescopic sections l2. and l 3, rendering it adjustable as to length. Opposite ends of the bar may be detachably supported at M, upon brackets which may be secured to a wall or a frame defining a window or door opening. The sections [2 and I3 are usually separable, so that the telescoping ends may be threaded through hems, loops, or the like, carried by the panel.

As shown in Fig. l, the curtain or drape is equipped with ruffles I6 or any similar edge finishing expedient for decorative purposes, and since the rufile is not a necessary element of the combination, it has been omitted from all the other drawing views. At I! is shown a tie-back, which usually is employed for obtaining desired drape effects. The tie-back may be suspended from an end of the curtain rod or bar, or from any-other anchorage near the corner of the window, in accordance with common practice.

Fig. 2, as well as Fig. 1, shows the curtain or drape as itappears from the front, or as viewed from the inside of a room. Fig. 3 shows the reverse or rear face of the curtain-or drape. The panel constituting the curtain or drape has an upper or head end I8, alower or root end -I 9, and a pairof longsides 2D and 2! intermediate the ends. The sides 26 and 2| may be substantially parallel, and the ends I8 and [9 may likewise be parallel, or substantially so, although in certain instances the lower or foot end may be inclined, rounded scalloped, or otherwise shaped to obtain different decorative-effects. As shown in Fig. 2, the foot end I9 is slightly inclined for the purpose of ensuring a horizontal appearance thereof after the panel is draped or arranged in accordance with Fig. 1.

At 22 is indicated a hem extending from the head end 18 downwardly along one of the sides, such as 20. At intervals along the length thereof, the hem may be slitted transversely at a-number of locations 23, to provide aligned loops or openended tubes 24 receptive of the bar 19. The loops or tubes are arranged in a row, with a common axis extending parallel to the long side of the panel, thereby to provide suspenders by which the panel may be hung from the bar it]. It may be noted that the suspenders or loops are provided'a'long the long side only of the panel. The row of suspenders may extend from the head end of the panel downwardly or toward the foot end, for a limited distance, which may approximate one-fourth to one-half the length of the long side 20. The first or uppermost loop or tube, indicated at 240, may be longer than theothers, if desired, although as shown upon Fig. 5 these may be of uniform length. 7

As in Figs. 2 and 3, the hem which provides the suspension means may be formed by turning upon itself the side edge 25 of the panel, then applying stitching 26 or other suitable fastening means to maintain the hem. It is not necessary that the hem be extended downwardly farther than the lowermost loop 24; however, in practice it may be expedient to continue the hem to the lower end I 9 as shown, although only the upper portion thereof is to be employed'in suspending the panel.

Along the upper or head end of the panel, means may be provided for gathering the material in folds which run substantially parallel to the long side 29 of the panel. Such means may be in the form of a hem vZ'E made by turning the edge 28 upon the'panel and applying a line of stitching 29 to maintain the hem. Through the hem may be passed a draw-string fill having exposedends 3| and32 to be manipulatedin any suitable manner for gathering the material. As suggested by Fig. 1, one end 32 of the draw-string may be tied to the bar or rod Ill, while the opposite endis secured to the hem at 33. Various other arrangements of the draw-string are possible, of course. The draw-string hem is not to interfere with passage of the curtain rod through the suspending loop or tube 240, obviously.

From the foregoing, it is to be understood that the method of hanging the curtain or drape is as follows. The rod or bar I0 is removed from its brackets, and its two sections I2 and I3 are disconnected. The free end of section I3 is then inserted into a selected one of the slits 23, and is passed upwardly through all the loops above the selected slit, including the long tube 240, until the inserted end of the rod-emerges at the upper end l8 of the panel. Then the rod is turned to horizontal position, telescoped with'section l2, and mounted upon the brackets l5. Thus, the long side 20 of the panel is bent at a right angle where the curtain rod was initially inserted into a selectedsuspension loop, thereby ensuring horizontal disposition of that much of the panel side as was threaded onto the curtain rod, and vertical disposition of the remainder of the panel side. The panel being so suspended, it remains only to apply the tie-back I! and manipulate the draw-string 38 for gathering the material at end !8 to any desired extent. The material disposed along the rod section l3 also may be gathered and artistically arranged, if necessary. Of course, a second curtain panel will preferably be supported in like manner, upon the left section one size of curtain or drape may be properly accommodated to windows which are wide, narrow, low, or high, by predetermining the amount of panel length to be applied on rod I0.

In accordance with the invention, the curtain 1 or drape is hun from its long side only, part of which is applied on the curtain rod, and the remainder of which hangs freely as a drape.

As suggested by Fig. 4, the suspension means for the panel may be in the form of individual spaced loops 35 anchored by sewing, clipping or otherwise securing them to a long side 46 of the panel. The loops may be of cord or ribbon, and may be arranged ina row which begins near the head end of the panel and terminates near or above the middle point of the panel length. The head end'of the panel may be provided with a hem 35 and draw-string 37, as and for the purpose heretofore explained. If desired, the loops 35 maybe in the form of rings made of metal, plastic,;or other hard material. The manner of applying the panel to the curtain rodorbar, is in this instance the sameas was explained in connection with the Fig, 1 disclosure.

Fig. 5 represents a modification, in which the suspension means is formed by securing a fleximay approximate one-fourth to one-half the length of the panel, and may be secured thereto by rows of stitching 43 or other suitable fastening means. The upper end of the strip should terminate near the upper or head end of the panel. The slits 42 serve to provide a row of aligned loops or tubes 45, which may be of uniform length as shown, or of different lengths as suggested by Fig. 3. The head end of the panel may be provided with the previously mentioned hem 46 and draw-string 41, if desired.

The modification illustrated by Fig. 6 involves the use of straps 5| spaced apart upon a face of the panel, to furnish loops or tubes for accommodating the curtain rod. The straps are arranged in a vertical row, close to a long side 50 of the panel. The row of straps begins near the upper or head end of the panel, and terminates at a distance therefrom as suggested by Figs. 4 and 5. The hem 52 and draw-string 53 correspond to the hems and draw-strings of the other drawing views. Any suitable means may be provided for securing the straps to the panel with their openings 54 in vertical alignment, stitching 55 being shown by way of example.

The panels in all the forms illustrated, are subject to use and manipulation in the manner previously set forth in the description of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, for attainment of the various objectives and advantages specified. It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the article, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A drape to be hung from a substantially horizontal bar above floor level, comprising a panel of flexible material having a head end, a foot end, and an upright long side intermediate said ends, and means for suspending the panel from the bar, said suspending means being secured along the long side only of the panel.

2. A drape to be hung from a substantially horizontal bar above floor level, comprising a panel of flexible material having a head end, a foot end, and an upright long side intermediate said ends, and means for suspending the panel from the bar, said suspending means being secured along the long side only of the panel, and means including a hem-like tubular passageway along the head end of the panel for gathering the adjacent material in folds running substantially parallel to the long side of the panel.

3. A drape to be hung from a substantially horizontal bar above floor level, comprising a panel of flexible material having a head end, a foot end, and a long side intermediate said ends, and a series of individual spaced suspenders along a portion of the long side, and selectively cumulatively receptive of the bar aforesaid, the suspenders being secured along the long side of the panel in a row beginning near the head end of the panel and extending toward the foot end thereof.

4. An article in accordance with claim 3, wherein the suspenders are in the form of aligned open-ended tubes, the common axis of which extends substantially parallel to the long side of the panel.

5. A drape to be hung from a substantially horizontal bar above floor level, comprising a panel of flexible material having a head end, a foot end, and a long side intermediate said ends, and a series of individually spaced loops along a portion of the long side, and cumulatively receptive of said bar selectively, to support the main body of the panel at different elevations beneath the bar, said loops having anchorage points at spaced locations along the long side of the panel, at difierent distances from the head end thereof.

6. A drape to be hung from a substantially horizontal bar above floor level, comprising a panel of flexible material having a head end, a foot end, and a long side intermediate said ends, and a series of individually spaced loops along a portion of the long side, and cumulatively receptive of said bar selectively, to support the main body of the panel at different elevations beneath the bar, said loops having anchorage points at spaced locations along the long side of the panel, at different distances from the head end thereof, and means at the head end of the panel for gathering the adjacent material in folds running in the direction of the long side of the panel.

'7. An article in accordance with claim 6, where in all of the loops are located between the head end of the panel and the mid-point of the length of the panel side.

8. A drape to be hung from a substantially horizontal bar located above floor level, comprising a panel of flexible material having a head end, a foot end, and a long side intermediate said ends, hems along the head end and the long side of the panel, to receive respectively a draw-string and the bar aforesaid, the long side hem being transversely slitted at spaced intervals for the bar to emerge from the hem at a selected location determinative of the distance above floor level to be assumed by the foot end of the panel.

9. A drape to be hung from a substantially horizontal bar above floor level, comprising a panel of flexible material having a head end, a foot end, and a long side intermediate said ends, and a hem along the long side of the panel to receive the horizontal bar for suspending the panel, said hem being transversely slitted at spaced intervals for the bar to emerge from the hem at a selected location determinative of the distance above floor level to be assumed by the foot end of the panel.

10. An article in accordance with claim 9. wherein all of the transverse slits are located between the head end of the panel and the midpoint of the length of the panel side.

BERTHA M. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 562,966 Michelfelder June 30, 1896 2,123,413 Geller June 12, 1938 2,247,253 Rosenberg June 24, 1941 2,329,462 Friedberg Sept. 14, 1943 2,533,873 Brandvein Dec. 12, 1950 2,534,519 Kahn Dec. 19, 1950 

